Riverside 21: Older than Arkh

[Shadowcaller]

DEATHKISS Concert

(Backstage)

"I... he fled but there are other intruders outside right now and they're not going anywhere." Jaahlyn briefly explains as she turns to Fade. "They want the band to talk to them once the concert is over. But I don't think they're our greatest concern right now. We need to protect the band right now as that man might strike again soon and he seems to be able to appear just about anywhere."

[Reinholdt]

[DEATHKISS Concert]

(Outside Front)

The counter chanting continues, but starts to taper off a little because there's only so many times you can say the same thing over and over and a few people aren't trying as hard as they could. Many of these moms are tired enough from their normal lives that they just don't have the energy for protracted screaming match with a succuband. On the other hand, those who do chant have the mom voice and you can bet they're using it!

Meanwhile a van pulls up to the corner from the intersecting street and idles at the stop sign. Perhaps looking at the demonstration. But that van, despite being a soccer van, has tinted windows and no identifying features.

*****

(Audience)

Ava eeps as Frigate approaches, perhaps even seeing his gun as he puts it away. Well, she's certainly not sticking around to find out if he's going to escort her off the premises. Ava is already turned around and forcing her through the crowd towards the back. Rather insistently at that. Boy can she move when threatened by a large metal and stone golem. She is booking it hard.

Ecstacy has undoubtedly touched many a panty in her lifetimes. So she can tell something is wrong about this one. Not in the usual this isn't clean sort of way. It's pretty hard to put her finger on actually. It's not acid or anything like that cause it's not irritating. And it's not contact poison cause Ava herself would have dropped dead by now if she used any kind of poison strong enough to effect a demon. What is it? It kinda feels like... paint? Did Ava actually paint her spare underwear hot pink? Well there's no lingering stickiness on Ecstacy's horns or fingers as she peels it off and drops it the stage floor so it wasn't wet paint at the very least.

It becomes clear it wasn't paint after a few more seconds, when the hot pink panties turns bright orange and explodes.

This particular explosion is not big enough to level Wild Mikes or anything, but it's not insignificant either. The first couple of rows are very unlikely to escape unscathed from burns or worse. The shockwave and heat will be felt almost by the people in the back rows whose lives are primarily in danger from any ensuing panic that results in people stampeding for the exit and crushing anyone unfortunate enough to end on the ground. The biggest danger is, of course, to the band itself as well as any flammable materials like curtains.

*****

(Backstage Bathroom)

Sandy freezes when she hears the crash of a bear into a wall. So... does that mean that the two demons had come to blows? She cranes her head and moves to listen at the door. No... there was little other sounds of fighting. What was that then? Ugh, this was all so complicated.

Another, louder boom that shakes her is heard, this time coming from the stage direction along with several distinct screams. "Awww... hell." Honestly, this was the absolute worst and Sandy very carefully cracks open the door to peek out at the madness that was occurring.

*****

(Backstage)

What Edith did with those pills and that punch is a real mystery no one observed. But she's collected a plate of carrots and chocolates for Mister Graham and is on her way back when she hears the thud behind her. She eeps and spins around, nearly dropping the food in the process, but carefully balancing it at the last second with a much needed sigh of relief. Ah, Jaahlyn's back. Everything was fine? Well whatever, not her busi-

The explosion causes Edith to duck and scream in a shrill voice as the plate rings against the floor and carrots roll a short distance.

[Morty]

[DEATHKISS Concert]

(Audience)

As the explosion goes off and panic spreads, something seems to latch onto it. Not only is the panic likely to be subtly amplified - just a bit more desperate and urgent - but there's a flash of purpose and paranoia. The demons did it. They gathered everyone here, lured them to their doom. They want to attack the city again and destroy it. What else are they planning? Is this happening all over the city? More explosions and attacks? Who else is behind it? These questions might linger in the minds of the audience once they flee the scene and the panic subsides.

Not far from there, a pitch-black bird perches on a building or tree overlooking the concert.

[Ironsmith]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

Fortunately, the only flammables onstage are Malady and Euphoria's outfits; rather ironically, it doesn't come equipped with curtains.

Less fortunately, the band still has quite a bit to worry about when a firebomb goes off onstage.

Mania's the luckiest. She's not only the furthest away from the blast, her drums provide cover for most of her body, with only her face, the tops of her shoulders, and the elbows of her wings being exposed to the heat. She'll come out of this with a burn on her face and little else, though her drum kit is ruined beyond repair.

Euphoria is less lucky. She's the most physically resilient of the four, and second-farthest from the blast, which is still enough to knock her off-balance and send her tumbling to the floor. She'll also suffer some light-ish burns, but they're not going to show up if she's examined. Her keyboard will have been shuffled off its stand and clattered on top of her, resulting in a series of painful bruises along her ribs.

Malady was on her way back to switching out with Ecstacy, and therefore near the panty bomb when it went off. The explosion is enough to fling her to the floor, covering her in burns. The guitar she was carrying at the moment is horribly mangled by the explosion, the heat causing the casing to warp and the strings to snap. Said string-snapping will also result in a series of lashings across Malady's face, including right over her eye.

Ecstacy got it worst of all. She was at the epicenter of the blast, without a shred of cover or protection. When the smoke clears, she'll be found on her back several feet from where she was standing, covered in serious burns. Her eyes are wide open, staring up at the sky lifelessly, a horrified expression on her face. She's not dead, as is obvious from the way she's hyperventilating, but she's grievously injured and in a state of terrible shock.

Someone in the audience has already phoned emergency services, and sirens go off in the distance as a convoy of ambulances and firetrucks start the trip toward the bar. But it will take some time for them to arrive; if there's any follow-up to the bombing, it will likely take place before first responders make their way inside.

[Earl of Purple]

DEATHKISS Concert

Frigate is practically fireproof, so he's not harmed by the explosion. He turns his head completely around- an advantage of not really having a neck- to assess the stage, before turning back round to follow where Ava's gotten to. He should stay to protect his charges, so he can't easily go after Ava... and he can't just shoot her, as that would cause even more of a panic than the explosion. Well, probably. So he can't easily stop her, unfortunately. He'll climb onto the stage and turn to the crowd. "Nobody panic! Leave slowly an' in an organised manner, unless ye're a doc or sawbones! Then be so kind as t' join I upon this 'ere poop deck an' safe a life, maybe! Got that, aye? An' somebody stop that woman, who threw th' undergarments, aye?" He'll point at Ava at this point, but there's no way to know if anyone's actually listening to him.

[Zefir]

DEATHKISS concert

Fade just looks at her. "Well i knew he is bad business. As for the new enemies I prepare a fast esca...." Fade falls sklent as he can see through his shadow how the panties change. His voice careies the confusion. In the moment of the explosion Fade reacts like he had an advantage of a second so he covers Jaahlyn with his body so no shards or shockwave hit her. After the schockwave is past them he turns to the stage. "Bombs in shape of underwear?" He says out loud then draws his sword. He turns to Jaahlyn with a bit of anger in his face. "The bands injured. Throw them in my shadow it's a demi plane. NOW!" The last word was shouted which made it more like a command. Then he turns back to the door Jaahlyn came from. He assumes whoever was talking to her is involved in the bomb attack and will use that to break through.

(STAGE)

The shadow is unharmed by the explosion and has seen it all, from the throw to the blow. It will stay in the cetral area, assuming Jaahlyn might do as she was told.

[Shadowcaller]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Backstage)

Jaahlyn is still by the door when the backdoor went off so she wouldn't have seen the stage where Fade's shadow appeared so she isn't sure what he's shouting about. This of course would make it unnecessary for him to throw himself in her way too as the splinters wouldn't come anywhere close to her. Still, it won't take him any shouting for her to start to move towards the stage at this point.

But as she's running off there's a loud knocking on the door and a woman's voice on the other side. "What was that?! You better not be exploding people in there!"

Then the door handle starts to turn but Jaahlyn has of course locked the door.

"Open up or I'll smash this door!"

(Stage)

As Jaahlyn enters the stage her hair has turned completely white and those who gaze upon her will be struck by a sudden sense of calm despite the circumstances. The sense of having made peace with death. While they could still act it would feel as if they would simply accept what happened now even if it was their own death. Those effected could still flee, help the victims or try to call for help but do so in a amazingly calm and thoughtful manner. No burning sense of panic or urgency.
This will no doubt help Frigate's attempts to calm the crowd.

Jaahlyn herself seems influence by this aura as while she's running up on the stage she seems deadly calm. Her mind not ridden by the panic that would normally grip her in a situation like this and therefore she quickly makes the connection between what Fade said and the shadow on the stage.
She wasn't sure if it was truly a good idea to put the wounded band member in it, they could die in there if they didn't get any help. But considering that someone and something at any point could dive in to finish the job she nonetheless try to do what Fade said and see if any of the members were unconscious so she could lift them and put them inside the shadow.

[Reinholdt]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Outside Front)

The MAD protestors gasp, flinch, duck, all manner of things that results from a sudden shock. Their chant clearly at an end, there's a moment of stunned silence until the first audience members burst through the doors screaming. Someone, somewhere cries out 'The demons are attacking!' and the stillness that had gripped MAD erupts into fear and anger. A small few start to move towards the building wielding little more than signs as weapons, but the majority of them scatter and start to flee home, carrying their message and distress with them as they seek to get ahead of the newest demonic threat. The ones that are trying to fight back are too few in number to make it past the escaping audience and their efforts are rebuffed. The conservatively dressed catgirl is the only one to cry out. "Wait! Don't panic, we don't know anything yet! Wait!" Her words are lost amidst the torrent of cries.

The van idles as its driver looks at the ensuing chaos, seeking out something or someone in particular but not seeing them and feeling a growing anxiety.

*****

(Audience)

Frigate's words are sound, but the panic that is spreading has become more than just there's a bomb. Which really should be enough to ignore his plea to begin with, the idea of staying calm ringing hollow with the band members as well as several of the closest audience members lying injured upon the ground already. Now there was a supernatural element to the audience's fear and nothing was going to stop them from rushing the exit in the most disorganized and chaotic fashion possible. It was very much every person for themselves. The few that see Jaahlyn at this point in time try to go about it calmly but they are overwhelmed by the majority. The ones in the back take things at a more reasonable pace, however.

Remarkably, there was a person who heard Frigate and listened to his words. The majority of the audience was so focused on the band, they have no idea who threw the panties, but Spencer wasn't a Deathkiss fan. His girlfriend was and Spencer agreed to come with her tonight to have a good time. He was watching more than just the succubi on stage and Ava just happened to be coming right towards him when the bomb went off. Being close enough, he throws himself at Ava just as she gets past him. Thinking to be the vigilante who catches the villain. An 11th hour hero.

They both topple to the floor and the crowd makes no hesitation to walk over them in their frightened state, Spencer's girlfriend crying out for him, but forced towards the exit by the wave of bodies. As Wild Mike's begins to clear out and space is formed, the first known fatality becomes clear as Ava pushes Spencer's lifeless body off from atop of her and scrambles to her feet, holding her ribs with one hand and limping. She still wanted to make it to the exit, but that seemed a distant and fading hope now being at the back of the crowd. She glances around wild-eyed and spots Jaahlyn. Her emotions calm instantly. Her plan to make her escape with the crowd has been ruined so she had to either get out another way before they caught her or stop MERC from keeping those demons alive.

She chooses the former, not liking her odds of facing so many unknowns. So rather than going forward towards the exit or backwards towards the stage, she goes... towards a side wall? Well that's what she does.

*****

(Backstage)

Sandy watches everyone rush towards the area the explosion went off and she admits she's tempted to follow herself out of morbid curiosity. But a voice stops her. Blinking, she turns towards the back door being rattled upon. As if a woman lost of all common sense, she heads towards it and unlocks the door, opening it for the purple elf on the other side. She starts to say something until she sees more than just a druid and jumps back. "Demon!" She cries out in warning, pointing past the night elf's form. Because somehow Tarim must have snuck up on Anika and is about to strike.

*****

(Backstage)

Edith's first instinct after the initial blast is to run for the emergency exit and she takes a few steps in that direction before stopping. Mister Graham! She bites her lip, then turns around and rushes back to where he was, only to find him collapsed, some of the equipment nearby ruined and sparking. She holds up her hand to her face to protect herself. "Mister Graham?! Mister Graham, can you hear me?!" She calls out as she kneels beside him. He responds with a groan and a cough, some blood running down his head. "D-don't move Mister Graham. You may have a concussion." Edith says, looking around. She starts to reach for the plug to take it out, but it sparks and she withdraws her hand quickly. Then stupidly darts in and pulls it out anyways as fast as she can. It ends up fortunate for her and nothing ill happens.

"Don't worry Mister Graham, help's coming," Edith says, kneeling beside the injured man and waiting. He wasn't in any immediate danger and could be tended to later with Edith watching over him to make sure his condition didn't worsen.

[Ironsmith]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Onstage)

Jaahlyn is going to discover that Malady and Ecstacy are both unconscious, albeit in different senses of the word. Malady appears to have been knocked out by the blast, and may be stirring again when Jaahlyn gets to her, but has yet to truly wake. Ecstacy will still be laying on the floor, wide-eyed and unresponsive; awake in some sense, but not properly aware of her surroundings.

Ava is going to discover that Euphoria, being only lightly injured by the blast, is still fully capable of flight, as well as lifting and throwing items of substantial weight, such as her keyboard, which will clatter in front of the fleeing assassin rather ominously, temporarily cutting off whatever avenue of escape she was hoping for as the furious demoness descends on her from behind. It should quickly become apparent that she picked the wrong target when she threw her bomb.

Mania will get up and bring her wings down around her, putting her back up in her blazer-and-blouse ensemble. Now would not be a good time to distract anyone with a naked succubus. As soon as she sees what Jaahlyn is doing with Fade's shadow and her injured bandmates, she goes to help, carrying whichever of the two Jaahlyn doesn't grab.

[Zefir]

Wild Mikes Bombing

(Onstage)

The shadow seems to work like a portal and whem they drag a body to it, it seems to slowly drag the person in line a lift. Should any of them try to follow they will see spotlight were the unconsiouse band mamber lay surrounded by shadows. Also the physiks seem to be broken as the portal in the demi plane is vertikal while it is horizontal in the real world. The shadow will stay in place and keep the postal open for as long as they need.

(Backstage)

Fade is so fokused on the wall that he misses the woman who opens the door. When she shouts out demons he gabs her on the shoulddr to get her back in, assumin Mixer has send his people immediatly.
He will try to close the door again, but also turn to the woman. "GET OUT! The front door should be safer then here"

[Shadowcaller]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]
(Backstage)

Sandy watches everyone rush towards the area the explosion went off and she admits she's tempted to follow herself out of morbid curiosity. But a voice stops her. Blinking, she turns towards the back door being rattled upon. As if a woman lost of all common sense, she heads towards it and unlocks the door, opening it for the purple elf on the other side. She starts to say something until she sees more than just a druid and jumps back. "Demon!" She cries out in warning, pointing past the night elf's form. Because somehow Tarim must have snuck up on Anika and is about to strike.

*****

(Backstage)

Edith's first instinct after the initial blast is to run for the emergency exit and she takes a few steps in that direction before stopping. Mister Graham! She bites her lip, then turns around and rushes back to where he was, only to find him collapsed, some of the equipment nearby ruined and sparking. She holds up her hand to her face to protect herself. "Mister Graham?! Mister Graham, can you hear me?!" She calls out as she kneels beside him. He responds with a groan and a cough, some blood running down his head. "D-don't move Mister Graham. You may have a concussion." Edith says, looking around. She starts to reach for the plug to take it out, but it sparks and she withdraws her hand quickly. Then stupidly darts in and pulls it out anyways as fast as she can. It ends up fortunate for her and nothing ill happens.

"Don't worry Mister Graham, help's coming," Edith says, kneeling beside the injured man and waiting. He wasn't in any immediate danger and could be tended to later with Edith watching over him to make sure his condition didn't worsen.

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]
(Backstage)

"Oh, cool!" Anika hadn't honestly expected anyone to open up but it was as her mom had always said. It paid to be polite.

"Whu-" She turns around to see where Sandy is pointing only to realize who she was pointing at.

Tarim, seemingly used to this sort of reaction, backs away as to appear less threatening.
"I'll will remain guard here... out of sight."

Anika turns back to Sandy only to see Fade attempting to slam the door shut. "No, I'm with VIGIL!" She insists and attempts to push the door open again.
As the door is no longer locked Fade might have a hard time measuring his strength against Anika's if he has average humanoid strength. "We're here to help!" Especially if those demons had gone crazy on stage and exploded everyone.

[5a Violista]

[DEATHKISS Concert]

One moment, the atmosphere's amazing and everything's great.
Of course, the next moment, it's. . .not.

Halfway back, Carmen was fortunate enough to not be in the bomb's splash zone.
Serious emergency, though. Best thing to do is get out.

Okay, just like everyone else, now all she has to do is calmly go to the nearest exit. The people in front of her should be going to the side exits and the people behind her should be going to the front exit, parting both ways and leaving the middle area clear so she can go whichever direction clears out fastest, so Carmen doesn't have to worry abou---
Carmen gets shoved, as someone who was in front of her tries to get out before her.
She gets shoved again.
And again.
Finally, someone thinks she's still too much in the way, and pushes her down.

Feeling she's in a really bad situation, Carmen does her best to protect her head and make her way over towards one of the walls. By the time she gets over there where it's relatively safer, she's not in the best condition, but still better than some of the people who weren't as lucky.

[Earl of Purple]

Wild Mike's DEATHKISS Bombing

Well, since people are panicking anyway, Frigate's going to rather carefully follow Ava, pulling a pistol free and pointing it at the sky. He really shouldn't have called out, that left one person probably dead. Why must organics be so fragile and easily broken? It mostly makes Frigate's job easier, but can be downright inconvenient sometimes. He'll keep turning his head, fully rotating it all the way around, as he makes sure there's no other threats, but he's walking very slowly as a result, and also because he doesn't want to step on anybody. He'd level the pistol at Ava, but his employer has just got in the way, so he can't.

[Shadowcaller]

[Elf to the Manor - MERC Adventure]

Out of the stream of fire Damon bursts, axe drawn, wreathed in black fire. He starts stalking towards the car, stopping and pausing as he sees, well, a lot going on.

...

Unsure of the exact situation, he slams his hands into the ground, causing an arc of black fire to rapidly spread around the vehicle, attempting to isolate it, and render any attempt at escape, well, more difficult to say the least.

[Elf to the Manor - MERC Adventure]

To give Damon a brief summary of the situation.

1. The van used to transport Amalungak is now empty.
2. Amalungak is right outside the back of the van being engulfed by a large yellow worm-like creature which seems to be made up of human fat.
3. Mr. Slash might just have murdered one of the hobgoblins that were driving the van as he was keeping her hostage.
4. The worm creature is currently sinking into the ground along with Amalungak. Seemingly keeping him hostage in turn. Looks like it want to escape with him.

Then back to the scene.
The creature and Amalungak start to sink into the ground faster as the creature still attempts to escape underground despite the shadowy shield Damon has created. Perhaps it believes it can easier force its way through it underground rather than above earth.

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

Jaahlyn makes sure the succubi are alive before placing them in this shadow realm and then finally turns her attention to the rest of the crowd. Regarding them with the same deadly calmness that she just regarded the band with but says nothing.
Instead she turns her attention back to Mania. "You too will be safe within the shadows, child." She tells her in a soothing tone, the aura of calmness seemingly extending to the band as well. "Make sure the rest don't die yet."She will then hand her a first aid kit that she must have picked up somewhere. Perhaps it was in the club or she simply brought it along with her.

"I will be joining you shortly after I take care of something." The satyr gives Mania a strangely reassuring smile.

[Reinholdt]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Outside Front)

The catgirl moves a little closer and then stomps the ground hard, causing the earth to violent erupt upwards under her feet. It's remarkably controlled, that little pillar of earth and shoots her up into the air where she lands on the roof of Wild Mike's with surprising grace. What little roof there is along the sides anyways. This way she can pop her head over the lip and see what's going on. Oh gosh that succubus is every bit as scantily dressed as imagined. The sight of Euphoria's outfit makes her avert her eyes from the scene. It was just too much.

*****

(Audience)

Well Frigate's words did keep Ava from escaping through the front door by now. Partial win? Doesn't feel great. It will be another round or two before the audience fully clears from this place.

Ava is stopped just before reaching the wall by a keyboard set. Well sort of? Ava could just go around it. Might have been better to just hit Ava with the keyboard. It does give her pause, which is undoubtedly what Euphoria was looking for as she descends. Ava, glances back just to get one look at Euphoria before whirling around to face the succubus directly. Ava knows she should be terrified, but she's never felt more calm in her life as she steps back beside the keyboard and crouches down, putting her hand upon the instrument.

A familiar, terrifying hot pink spreads outwards from Ava's fingertips onto the keys, growing outwards like a creeping dread. The color seeps into the discarded instrument until the entire ensemble shone is consumed with this neon warning. Ava's hand remains pressed upon the keys as she glares at Euphoria with raw hatred.

"Stay back you monster or I'll make those panties look like a firecracker in comparison! Nobody come any closer!"

*****

(Backstage)

Sandy represses her first instinct when Fade grabs her shoulder and steps back. "Towards the screaming and explosions? Really?" Sandy says incredulously to Fade. She's... not entirely sure he understands what safer means.

Sandy glances at the door again as Anika struggles with it against Fade and narrows her eyes. "... Fine." She's not actually going to listen to Fade and leave. She paid way, way too much for these tickets to bail now. But she is going to move towards the front stage until she was close enough to see what was going on from the sidelines. It takes some moments to assess the situation. Demons fleeing through a portal. A golem and a succubus hunting a human. Something's really pink and there are scorch marks on the stage. Fallen audience members and fleeing audience members.

... Dammit, she missed all the exciting stuff! DEATHKISS should have told people ahead of time if they were doing a new bit with explosives. This looked like it was really rad. Ugh, it was all that stupid dog man's fault for holding her up.

*****

(Backstage)

Oh there are threats being tossed around now. "On second thought Mister Graham, let's get you away from here. Come on..."

Edith spends a lot of effort and energy slowly dragging Mister Graham further backstage where they could properly duck for cover and not see what's going on out front. If another bomb does go off, every wall between them and the explosion matters.

[Ironsmith]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Onstage)

Mania takes the first aid kit, hands shaking with trepidation. There's nothing about Jaahlyn's proposed evacuation plan that doesn't set her on edge; she's supposed to get into this portal she doesn't understand, to tend to her bandmates and friends who are horribly injured, with what she's sure are inadequate tools and absolutely no know-how whatsoever. How the hell is she supposed to-

Then she gets a look at Jaahlyn's face.

Mania sighs quietly as that unnatural calm washes over her, and she can process those instructions more clearly. Jaahlyn's right; this is what she should be doing.

"...Be careful, okay?" She manages to say, before slipping into the shadow.

(Floor)

It takes all of Euphoria's self-control to not tackle Ava anyway. If there weren't anybody but her at risk, she might still have done it; Ava's actions hurt her friends and her by proxy (she doesn't consider the minor burns dhe sustained worth comment). That sparked a murderous rage in her, one which wouldn't be sated by standing back and talking things out. It also wouldn't be sated by Euphoria indulging her current fantasy of rearranging this woman's internal organs alphabetically, but she's willing to look past that and make an attempt anyway if the opportunity presents itself.

What's giving her hesitation is the realization that Ava probably isn't bluffing. If the size of the explosion is proportional to the amount of material used, Ava's description of a twenty-pound payload when an ounce of fabric could do this would be downplaying it, if anything. That kind of explosion would probably take out a city block, and this one still had their mercenaries, their fleeing audience, a group of innocent (if annoying) mothers in it, and no doubt several other innocents who were just passing by at the wrong time. She knows a potential bloodbath when she sees one.

And Ava certainly looks crazy enough to set off the bomb, even being at the epicenter of this blast.

Euphoria paces back and forth, her feet practically slamming down into the floor with each step as she tries to work off some of this malicious energy before she explodes. "Why?!" She demands of Ava, matching her fury and then some. "Why did you do this? Those two haven't hurt you! They haven't hurt anybody! And they sure as hell weren't going to hurt anyone, either!"

She knows why. But she has to say something to curb her impulse to do something rash.

[Zefir]

DEATHKISS Concert after bombing

((Backstage))

Fade is stronger then an average human. It's likly that this will be a tie between the two. The weakest part in this might be the door itself. Fade will kepp hold at the door as he thinks about her words.

"If you are with Vigil, then fight the demon behind you or get to the front and stop the assassins from escaping."

There are way to much innocent here backstage to let this door open and let the demon in who Fade can only assume is with the assassin 'Hot Pink Bomber'.

((Stage))

As the 3rd member of the band is in, the portal seems to close and only the shadow on stage remain. The shadow will slide closer to the last bandmember, in case of an emergency he might pull her in to safe her, if he will notice it soon enougth.

((Shadow realm))

Fades voice echos from all sides as he speaks. And those in here won't notice that the shadow has moved.
"Treat them as best as you can. If the situation here cleares up I can do something to stabilize them."

[Earl of Purple]

DEATHKISS Concert

Frigate continues to monitor the retreating crowd, somewhat relieved that most of the band have entered Fade's shadow and are conceivably safe, though Frigate doesn't know how it works. He's also a little concerned about the potential blast, since he arrived too late to stop her continuing the effect until it was entirely pink. He'll walk around Euphoria to a position where he could shoot Ava without the succubus getting in the way, but doesn't shoot yet.

[Shadowcaller]

DEATHKISS Concert after bombing

(Backstage)

"If there was a demon behind me don't you think it would have attacked by now?!" Anika shouts back.
But she has had enough of this dude, he was not going to keep her out!

"But whatever! Get out of the way right now as I'm coming in!" Then the druid stops pushing the door and backs away. "In 3... 2... 1... get out of the way!"

Anika is then going to transform into a bear and simply ram the door and if Fade is still standing there he might be sent flying as that's what going to happen to the door as she comes charging.

((Stage))

Jaahlyn nods to Mania. "I will. Worry about your friends instead and make sure they don't wake up the wrong place." Even Fade's shadow realm, as monotone as it was, was a lot more preferable than the abyss she imagined.

As the succubi leaves Jaahlyn turns not to Ava and Euphoria but the influence she could feel in the air. These terrorists had the help of much more than just explosive underwear...
It wasn't the rat king, that much she could tell. No, this entity's desires were far more plain to her which made it all the more dangerous. But it also made it easier to counteract, even if she could just try to ease the consequences for now.

She brings up her flute and considers for a moment. It was possible that Euphoria and Frigate wouldn't like what came next but perhaps Frigate was immune to the song of final sleep?
Either way, it didn't look like the situation was going to get resolved peacefully right now so this might be their best shot. That it happened to inconvenience the entity that was watching this was just a bonus.

Stepping down from the scene into the misery and death below she starts to play a soft tune which nonetheless soon can be heard over all the alarm inside the club. It's not loud it just seems to be everywhere at once. A person that didn't see Jaahlyn playing would have a hard time finding the source of the music despite it being so omnipresent within the club now.
To the dead and the dying the song will bring peace. In the final turmoil that is the process of death, as their mind struggles to comprehend the death of the body and neurons fire off the last firework of emotions the song reaches through the chaotic mist and brings peace. Death, like nothingness, is something the living mind cannot comprehended and in that there is comfort as in that way they will never truly experience death. Instead being taken to an eternal sleep, or whatever afterlife they have earned or are destined for.

One thing is for sure, the fear they felt and their souls will be untouched by both the abyss and that fey entity now.

For the living the song have a different effect as it brings a stillness to the mind. All aggression and fear will start to subside if they cannot resist the effect of the music and all desires they might have had at the moment is replaced by a profound need to sleep. To just lay down on the softest place nearby and just dream of death and what might lay beyond it.

[Reinholdt]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Roof)

Leah finds this roof all too comfy and the music all too calming as it draws the catgirl to sleep. It's not the restful one that everyone else gets to enjoy, unfortunately. The color of music still haunts her dreams, the eldritch entity trapped in a time loop, only sealed away uncertainly. Able to escape the moment the stars become right once more.

Ohlamel.

One way...

*****

(Audience Floor)

"Like hell they haven't! I know what you succubi are really like!" Ava counters, grabbing the keyboard with both hands and dragging it as she pulls and scoots closer and closer to the wall.

"You seek out the innocent to corrupt and pull them apart piece by piece, stripping away their lives until nothing but a husk is left just like you did my dad," Ava explains with years old pain in her voice. This clearly happened a long time ago and it was likely that Ava was still a young kid who hadn't stopped idolizing her father yet when it occurred. "He was a good man. A good father. And you ripped away his money, his marriage, his personality and finally his soul. You stole him away from me to make some kind of damned quota! I see through your bubblegum image and your undulations. You ruin people and you don't care what kind of mess you leave behind in the process as you take and you take and you take. Well today I'm taking from you!"

Ava bumps into the wall and stops, blinking, not sure when she started crying. It was dumb. Here they were ready to kill each other and she can't stop water from dripping off her cheeks. "... Mom couldn't handle losing dad like that," Ava says more quietly. "And..."

Ava shakes her head. She needed to get out of here. With one hand she starts to reach for the wall behind her until Jaahlyn's music starts. She pauses and slowly lowers the hand, as her head swivels towards the demon of death. Ah. Euphoria and Frigate were a distraction. "And... I guess I'll see them soon," Ava says, her voice calm. At peace as she closes her eyes and releases the keyboard, dangerously close to falling asleep and accepting her death completely. The spots her fingertips last touch begin to shift into a bright orange more slowly than the panties did.

The audience that have not yet escaped quickly tire and fall asleep atop each other in one large cuddle puddle of about forty to fifty people including those few MAD moms who were trying to get in.

*****

(Backstage)

Well... Edith's medicine doesn't usually make her this tired. Huh. And yet she can't help but fall asleep. Wait, she was supposed to make sure Mister Graham doesn't fall asleep right? It's bad to fall asleep with a concussion.

Ah well, she'll worry about that if she wakes up again. ZZZZZZ...

*****

(Stage)

Sandy watches these going ons quietly at first. The portal's closed. There's a palpable supernatural panic in the air that says the demons did this because of course the demons did. But that's something those stricken by fear and dread believe. Everyone knows DEATHKISS wouldn't do something like this. Every true fan anyways. No this was clearly an attack by... well probably that girl over there they were cornering and questioning and had Euphoria's keyboard... hey! That's not right. Sandy wanted to be the one to caress Euphoria's keyboard. Ugh. Jealous!

And then this satyr-like piper. Everyone falling asleep left and right. It was spooky. But it was also very rude! Sandy glances around and spots one of Mania's discarded drumsticks that wasn't terribly mangled and picks it up. Loathe as she is to part with such a treasure, she flicks it with remarkable strength and accuracy at Jaahlyn's flute, aiming to knock the instrument right out of her hands.

"Poser bands play on weekdays! We're here for DEATHKISS, WOOO!"

[Ironsmith]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Floor)
Euphoria stiffens. Had the rant been directed at her, personally, it would have been a fair cop. It was even reasonably likely that Ava's father's killer was present; if not Euphoria herself, as she no longer had time for that sort of personal touch, then Mania, who would have tempted thirty or so souls into the Abyss that year.

Unfortunately, and infuriatingly, Ava hadn't hit either of them.

"You colossal [fornicating] idiot." Euphoria growls in response. "You've managed to burn the two succubi least likely to ever do that. They were given the same options as the rest of us: kill or die. They made a third one and formed a gods-damned band instead." She growls. "You've only... you've..."

Why are her eyelids suddenly so heavy?

Euphoria collapses onto her knees, like a marrionette with one of her cross-brace controls dropped. Jaahlyn's music was indeed effective at quieting that tumultuous rage inside her. Unfortunately, in her advanced age, there's not much left apart from that.

The last thing Euphoria will see before abruptly passing out will be her keyboard shifting toward detonation. It was probably going to explode in her sleep, and would definitely send her back to the Abyss, along with all these other souls.

"...Thanks, girls... it was a good... run..."

clonk

zzzzzzz...

[Morty]

[Elf to the Manor - MERC Adventure]

After the swarm of small creatures and the wood-spider, more reinforcements come. Now it's a large deer-like creature, whose upper body is far larger than it should be and made of dead, bleached wood. It splits into two heads, each with a pair of glowing red eyes and horns made out of sharp bone. The monster charges, leaps over the building flame and tries to ram both pairs of horns into the vampire.

[Murkus]

[The Toy Tinker]

"Yeah, yeah, that's what I meant. She helped us fight them. Since I was there too y'know as I'm with VIGIL." Anika nods and gestures at herself. "You might know of me in fact. But I'm usually a bear."

But before she elaborates on that statement, she looks down at the branch and instead decides to answer Sticks question. "Intended use? Uh, I... don't know. That's also why I'm suspicious of this."

[The Toy Tinker]

"I'm sorry, I don't really keep up with the news..." Sticks looks at her blandly. He doesn't keep track of would-be heroes, either. There's a pause at her reply. "No, I mean... you intend to give this to someone. Is that correct? What would they use it for? Is there a purpose to this gift?"

[Zefir]

Deathkiss concert

(Floor)

His options are limited, but his main job is to look for the client. So when euphoria falls asleep her head doesn t touch the ground of Mikes. Instead it dropps into the black shadow that has moved under her befor. It may look like the Abysss returns her to where she belongs.
The shadow then slides neat Jaahlyn. An attemp to save her as well. Fridgate proofed to be more resitant tot eh explosion and time is running low.

(Shadow realm)

It s a little cramped up here and while the wounded are treated the sleeping Euphoria drops in. Place is limited, but the demons should not sit on each other.

(Backstage)

Fade kocks the door immediatly after Anika let go. He does take the threat seriously, especially when he has to assume that woman works with the demon and isn t from Vigil. Another lie. He steps to the side where the doorlock is because a door likly flies in the direction where it was held. Instead of holding the bear up he waits for it to get past him.
"The assasins will blow up another bigger bomb, you can see it at the audience area." He says with his emotionless voice. A warning if you wand. Then Fade slips through the hole in the wall. Best to have something between him and the explosion.

[Shadowcaller]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Backstage)

If Fade assumes Anika is with the assassins, wouldn't he think that she knows if they have another bigger bomb or not?

The bear doesn't seem to take heed to his warning though. If they had a bigger bomb, why not use that one right away? Besides, this dude was super sketchy!

Looking around she didn't see anything amiss she makes a beeline for the stage so she could find out what happened here. The first thing that draws her attention is that weird black portal thingy on the stage. Had the demons attacked the audience and then fled into that? Well, she was going to drag them back in that case!

The bear charges towards the shadow rift and will attempt to jump right into it.

(Audience Floor)

The flute is knocked out of Jaahlyn's hands and the melody abruptly ends.
It looked like it had already accomplished what she had intended though.
She doesn't even bother picking up the flute since if the next part of her plan worked she rather wanted it not to be on her person.

Not even giving Sandy a look she darts towards Ava, grabs her and the bomb and starts to carry them towards the back exit as fast as possible. She wasn't exactly sure how this bomb worked but she had overheard enough of Ava shouting to get the idea that keeping them together would be a good idea. Though she wasn't sure if Ava told the truth or she had misunderstood so it was best to get it as far away from here as possible.

Those demon hunters would be waiting at the back exit so she might keep them busy helping her with the bomb for a while.

- - - Updated - - -

[The Toy Tinker]

"Uh..." Anika scratches her head. "No, that's exactly the problem. Jez gave me this thing and I got no idea what to do with it. But she gave me it to give to Ilpholin since she wants to, uh, befriend her I guess. Or at least not want to kill her. See, Ilpholin is a nymph friend of mine that hates demons and since Jez may or may not be a demon..." She shrugs. "I just want to make sure it isn't a trap or whatever."

[5a Violista]

[Wild Mike's]

Carmen, as hit happens, is one of those audience members who hasn't managed to escape.
She starts to feel drowsy.
That's not good, she thinks. Is it because of blood loss? Is she bleeding internally? That's not good. If she closes her eyes now, she'll almost certainly die from this internal bleeding. All she has to do is get outside and away from the crowd, and then she'll run into someone with healing magic. She can't die now; if she does, then all that time in that dungeon and all her efforts would have been a waste.

Struggling to stay awake, Carmen along the wall towards the nearest exit.
But, even so, she can't seem to keep her eyes open. Maybe if she just closes her eyes, it'll be easier to stay awake. . .

Spoiler: sleep

Show

Carmen finds herself still lying on the ground, in pain. But she's not in the building anymore? Did latent succubus powers or maybe latent paladin powers or latent lust powers or latent fish powers or latent extravert powers or latent clone powers or latent determination powers or latent...wait, does being in the Nexus make her an Isekai protagonist? That would mean she could have any number of latent powers that could make her teleport to safety. Or something. But there's not much here, so she can't really tell where she is. In fact, the only thing she can see here is another person. . .but the lighting is way too terrible to really tell who it is. Regardless, that person feels familiar, so she knows she'll be able to get help from that person.

Carmen reaches out, and tries to speak, to call out to that person, to ask for help or healing magic or whatever.


"Oh, that was sooner than I expected," the familiar lady says, turning around. Looks way too familiar, but Carmen can't really place where she saw her before. "What happened this time? Was it de...no, you still have your neck." Carmen stares, trying to figure this out. Also, does this person have healing magic? Seems so, but they don't seem to be doing anything yet. "Oh, I see. You're still alive."
Carmen nods.
Of course she's alive. If she weren't, she wouldn't be here.
"Well, in that case..." The familiar woman sits on a throne's armrest, and puts her feet on the other armrest. "I actually want to see what happens next. So..."
The familiar lady raises a hand, with her thumb against her ring finger.

Whether due to some enormous feat of willpower or some sort of natural immunity to sleeping due to pretending to be a half-elf, Carmen opens her eyes again. No, she can't die yet.
Carmen looks around.
Things look...orange! Just like that other bomb! It's already been touched!
Carmen the half-succubus tries harder to drag herself towards the door.

Unnoticed by her, her tail is now out. It's fine, though. It doesn't affect dragging herself along the ground that much, especially because most of her lower body's numb at the moment.

[Earl of Purple]

Wild Mike's

Frigate does have a soul. What he doesn't have, however, is the ability to sleep or dream. He may very well get an afterlife, but he doesn't expect it- all he knows of death is that it involves cessation of all movement, like sleep does, but death is permanent.

So he stands there, unresponsive, for a time as others fall asleep. When the music ends, and Jaahlyn runs with the bomb-keyboard and Ava, Frigate instead turns towards the people heaped in the entry. He'll stride over as fast as he can- he can't run, too heavy- and starts to gather up as many as he can, draping them over his metallic shoulders and piling them in his arms. He'll try to get at least ten, but seven might fit better. A few might fall off, or be gripped a bit too hard, and Frigate's not exactly comfortable for sleeping on, but he's trying not to hurt them. He'll move them outside, piling them up there, before going back for more.

[Reinholdt]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Audience Floor towards Backstage)

Getting scooped up and carried towards Fade and Tarim's position jostles Ava out of her near slumber well enough. She's not going to make it easy for Jaahlyn as she immediately starts squirming and kicking, trying to get free from the goat's grip.

"What part of nobody come any closer was hard to understand?! Let me go you freak or we'll all die!!" Ava cries out, an edge of panic creeping back into her voice. To emphasize her desires she tries to bite Jaahlyn because stranger danger. Honestly, if her choice is being carried away by a goat demon to some fey dimension or let everything explode, she's going to choose explode.

Which is probably why she hasn't reached over and touched the bomb to 'tell' it to stop. No, it's just getting even more orange and is now about 80% orange, compared to 20% when Jaahlyn first scooped them both up.

(Stage)

Sandy watches with growing displeasure as Jaahlyn runs the bomb and terrorist in Sandy's direction. What was she doing? Ah, getting it away from the crowd. Well she's not going to give the demon any points for handling a hostage situation, but at least... no, no at least! It's that demon's fault the crowd's still here to begin with!

She glances over to Anika as the bear leaps at and paws a shadow on the stage. "YOU! BEAR! That demon sapped away people's will to live and there's another bomb. Help me get these people out of here, quickly!" Sandy says, leaping down onto the floor and hoping the bear will follow so that she might start throwing the injured and the tired upon the bear's back to run them out the front door, helping Frigate. Carmen is mysteriously untouched. Perhaps because she's still moving on her own and therefore doesn't need the help of a bear escort, though she might get scooped up by Frigate.

Of course, if the bear doesn't agree to this plan, Sandy's not going to bother trying to collect still breathing bodies on her own.

[Ironsmith]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

(Pocket Plane)

Mania is not having a good time.

Since Fade and Jaahlyn collectively put her in this "hole", she's been up to her eyes in problems she didn't have a chance in solving. Two of her only friends are laying in front of her, bleeding out while she tries desperately to apply the contents of her first aid kit in such a way as to buy them precious time. The tiny, vaguely-bounded but undeniably cramped space is probably the worst place she could try it, too; she can barely manage any elbow room, and the smell of burnt flesh is all around her, with no way to vent it off. What an abusively repulsive set of circumstances.

Outside, she can hear the already tense situation continue to escalate; something about a second bomb, MAD activists have broken in, and was that a goddamn bear? What?!

Yeah, no way she's poking her head out, even as bad as it is in here.

And just as she has that thought, her other bandmate drops in on her, and the whole place goes dark.

Mania lets out an indignant groan as the last slivers of free space disappear and she's officially squished in like one of a four-pack of sardines.

And if that isn't bad enough, Euphoria's now nibbling her ear and muttering surprisingly sweet nothings in her sleep.

That's just not fair.

(Outside)

The blaring sirens reach a crescendo as the first of the ambulances pull up to the site of the bombing, paramedics hastily clambering out of the vehicle as soon as it stops. Like many of those present, they succumb to the aura of paranoia almost immediately, and quietly blame the demons for the horrific scene they've been called to retrieve wounded from.

But fortunately, none of them consider that relevant to doing their job. They're first responders; their immediate concern is tending to the injured, innocent and guilty alike. Justice can be administered later, when cooler heads can prevail.

Hopefully Jaahlyn does something about that bomb soon. This sort of high-mindedness likely won't be very prominent if the incident gets them killed.

[Zefir]

[Bombing at Wild Mike's]

((Yeah Fade's assumption came out bad I had two different outcomes in mind and mixed things up together.))

(Backstage)

Fade does see Tarim outside and decides to go just the other way. It may look like the escape of a paniked guard, but he has his reasons to do so.
It might be best to clear things up. Fade as he walks around here right now has no shadow. Anyone looking migth notice that even a lightsource directly in front of him won't make him cast a shadow. That's becaue the shadow is currently in the audience area. it can funktion as a portal to a personal demiplane, but alos contains the power to absorb shadows. But the effect of that can be told later when they come up. Important is, if he get's hurt or at worst die the deemi plane might get damaged or just collaps killing those inside.

So Fade heads for the streets assuming tarim was heading here from a differetn path to avoid the Mad people on street. The fact that Jaahlyn also heads for the backstage is a problem.

(Pocket Plane)

The plane does have a slight light comming from somewhere above. You know that kinda light that is enougth to see in the dark if your eyes have get used to it. Otherwise it will be dead silent after Euphoria drops in. Spooky if mania had time to inspect her surrounding closer as the shadows seem to move in a far distance, which kinda throws the question why she only has so little room?

(Stage)

Anika will break through something as she attemps to jump in the shadow, likly breaking through the stage floor with her massiv bear strength. The shadow will slide to the closest wal, maybe to make fun of her or just to have another perspective? hard to tell since that shadow is only asillouet of the man that just went outside backstage.